Russian Entomol. J. 13(1–2): 85–89 © RUSSIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL JOURNAL, 2004

On Chloropidae (Diptera: Muscomorpha) from Tunisia

Î çëàêîâûõ ìóõàõ Chloropidae (Diptera: Muscomorpha) èç Òóíèñà

Emilia P. Nartshuk Ý.Ï. Íàð÷óê

Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1. St.-Petersburg, 199034 Russia. Çîîëîãè÷åñêèé èíñòèòóò Ðîññèéñêîé Àêàäåìèè íàóê, Óíèâåðñèòåòñêàÿ íàá. 1. Ñàíêò-Ïåòåðáóðã 199034 Ðîññèÿ. E-mail: [email protected]

KEY WORDS: Diptera, Chloropidae, Tunisia, North Africa. ÊËÞ×ÅÂÛÅ ÑËÎÂÀ: äâóêðûëûå, çëàêîâûå ìóõè, Òóíèñ, Ñåâ. Àôðèêà

ABSTRACT. A collection of Chloropidae made by I have an opportunity to examine a small collection R. Danielsson in Tinisia in April of 1994 contains 25 of Chloropidae from Tunisia collected on 7–12.04. species, from them 3 species are referred only to genus 1984 by R. Danielsson (Zoological Museum of the Lund because of insufficient material. In the collection exam- University, Sweden). Tunisia is a small country on area ined, 6 species and 3 genera are recorded for the first of 163 610 km2 liying at the eastern end of Maghreb. It time for North Africa, whereas 14 species are new for the comprises a considerable diversity of habitats from fauna of Tunisia. In total, 39 species of Chloropidae are woody mountains to the aridity of the dunal system of the known now in Tunisia. The most abundant species in the Grand Erg. Three main geographical regions can be examined collection are Thaumatomyia notata (Meigen, distinguished: Tunisian Tell, semiarid steppe and desert. 1830), Oscinella frit (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tricimba Material was collected in 16 localities situated in Tuni- humeralis (Loew, 1858). Colour variation in spring sian Tell and steppes of Central Tunisia. Tell is mountain- population of Thaumatomyia notata is discussed, and ous forest area with Mediterranean climate. Valleys in drawing of male genitalia of Tricimba humeralis is Tell and eastern part of steppes are intensively cultivated, given. practically without remnant of original vegetation. All material is kept in the collection of the Zoological ÐÅÇÞÌÅ. Êîëëåêöèÿ çëàêîâûõ ìóõ, ñîáðàííàÿ Museum of the Lund University (Sweden). Ð. Äàíèåëüñîíîì â Òóíèñå â àïðåëå 1994 ã. ñîäåðæèò 25 âèäîâ, èç íèõ 3 îïðåäåëåíû òîëüêî äî ðîäà âñëåä- Annotated list of the species ñòâèå íåäîñòàòêà ìàòåðèàëà.  èçó÷åííîé êîëëåê- öèè 6 âèäîâ è 3 ðîäà âïåðâûå íàéäåíû â Ñåâ. Àôðèêå Subfamily OSCINELLNAE è 14 âèäîâ ÿâëÿþòñÿ íîâûìè äëÿ ôàóíû Òóíèñà. Âñåãî òåïåðü èç Òóíèñà èçâåñòíî 39 âèäîâ. Íàèáîëåå 1. Aphanotrigonum favillaceum (Becker, 1903) N of Sousse 3 km S of Hergla, 07.04 (loc. 1); 17 km SE of ìíîãî÷èñëåííûå âèäû â êîëëåêöèè Thaumatomyia Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc.2). Total 4 ##. notata (Meigen, 1830), Oscinella frit (Linnaeus, 1758) Mediterranean species, it was described from Egypt, later è Tricimba humeralis (Loew, 1858). Îáñóæäàþòñÿ was found on Canary Islands and recorded in Cyprus [Nart- âàðèàöèè â îêðàñêå ó âåñåííåé ïîïóëÿöèè Thauma- shuk, 1990]. A new species for Tunisia. tomyia notata è äàí ðèñóíîê ãåíèòàëèé ñàìöàTricimba humeralis. 2. Aphanotrigonum femorellum Collin, 1946 N of Sousse 3 km S of Hergla, 07.04.1994, 1 #. Widely distributed species known from Europe to Mon- Introduction golia, was recorded for Tunisia by Dely-Draskovits [1981]. Chloropidae from North Africa was firstly studied 3. Aphanotrigonum parahastatum Dely-Draskovits, by Becker [1903] on the material from Egypt. Some 1981 years later he investigated a small collection from Alge- 12 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 11); 25 km S of Kairouan ria and Tunisia [Becker, 1907]. Only 5 species were 11.04 (loc. 23). Total 1 #, 2 $$. recorded in this paper from Tunisia. Later Becker [1910, The species was known from central and southern Europe, 1916] and Duda [1933] described several new species Crete and Afghanistan. A new species for Tunisia and North and new variation from Tunisia, and Dely-Draskovits Africa. [1981] recorded one more species. In the Catalogue of 4. Calamoncosis laminiformis Becker, 1908 Palaearctic Diptera, 16 species were recorded from 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23), 1 $. Tunisia [Nartshuk, 1984]. Recently Deeming [2003] The species was described from Canary Islands and later recorded 4 species of Oscinella Becker, 1909 from found in central and southern Europe and Kazakhstan. The Tunisia. species is new for the fauna of Tunisia and North Africa. 86 Emilia P. Nartshuk

5. Dicraeus tibialis (Macquart, 1935) 12. Polyodaspis sulcicollis (Meigen, 1830) Sbikha, 34 km W of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 22); 12 km E 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc. 2); 8 km S of Tabarka, of Mateur, 12.04 (loc. 25). Total 1 #, 1 $. 08.04 (loc. 7); 4 km E of Ain Sebaa 23 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 Holarctic species, but was found also on New Zealand (loc. 12); 25 km SW of Bizerta, 10.04 (loc. 20). Total 3 ##, [Ismay, 1991]. The species and the genus are recorded for the 3 $$. first time in Tunisia and North Africa. Larvae are phytopha- Widely distributed Palaearctic species, known from Great gous, develop in unripe seeds of Bromopsis sp. and Helictot- Britain to Mongolia, recorded in Israel and Algeria. New to richon sp. (Poaceae). the fauna of Tunisia. Larvae scavengers, the species was Examined male has two hind notopleural setae on right reared from Orobanche plants infested by other insects. side in distinguish from one as usual for this species. Other The species is rather variable in colour of setae and characters as dusted pleura, yellow abdomen and structure of setulae. Examined specimens have black setae on head and male genitalia correspond to common treating of this species. thorax, but frons setulae are white. Unfortunately notopleural setae on left side in male and on both sides in female are not seen. 13. Rhodesiella sp. 8 km NE of Nafza, 10.04 (loc. 16), 1 $. 6. Elachiptera bimaculata (Loew, 1845) It is probably a new species resembles with Rh. fedtschen- 5 km SW of Bizerta, 10.04. (loc. 20), 1 $. koi Nartshuk, 1978 described from Central Asia in having Euro-mediterranean species, widely distributed in south- yellow legs including coxae, only the last segment of tarsi is ern Palaearctic from Canary Islands to Israel and southern black. The species belongs to the group of plumiger Meigen, Russia. Scavenging larvae reared from different rotting plants, 1830, which is characterised by short scutellum only with 4 often together with other insects. long setae. The genus Rhodesiella Adams, 1905 was not earlier recorded in Tunisia and North Africa, but the genus is presented 7. Elachiptera cornuta (Fallén, 1820) by numerous species in the Afrotropical and Oriental Regions. 10 km SW of Bizerta, 07.04 (loc. 4), 1 $. Common species everywhere in Palaearctic. A new spe- 14. Siphunculina ornatifrons (Loew, 1858) cies for the fauna of Tunisia. Larvae are secondary invaders in 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23); N of Sfax 2 km E of different plants, often together with other insects. Djebeniana, 11.04 (loc. 24). Total 1 #, 2 $$. A widely distributed species in Mediterranean, known 8. Elachiptera diastema Collin, 1946 also from the Afrotropical and Oriental Regions and the 1 km S of Tabarka, 08.04 (loc. 6); E of Tabarka, 09.04 Pacific Islands. The species was reared from chicken dung in (loc. 11). Total 2 $$. Cameroon [Disney, 1973]. New for Tunisia. European species, recorded for the first time in Tunisia and North Africa. The specimens are well correspond to descrip- 15. Trachysiphonella carinifacies Nartshuk, 1964 tion but head and thorax setae are not black but yellowish. 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23), 1 $. The species was described from Kazakhstan and found in 9. Melanochaeta pubescens (Thalhammer, 1898) Mongolia as well. The species and the genus are recorded for 1 km S of Tabarka, 08.04 (loc. 6); 34 km N of Kairouan, the first time in Tunisia and North Africa. 11.04 (loc. 22). Total 13 specimens. Euro-mediterranean species occurring in Europe to North 16. Trachysiphonella sp. to southern England, Belgium and Germany and to East to 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc. 2), 1 $. Afghanistan. The specimens is similar to T. ruficeps Macquart, 1835, The species is very variable in colour, most examined but left here unnamed because of insufficient material. specimens are rather dark, 11 specimens have scutum black heavily grey dusted, only postpronotum and pleura yellow, 17.Tricimba (Nartshukiella)humeralis (Loew, 1858) and only two have partly yellow scutum. Figs. 1–2.

10. Oscinella frit (Linnaeus, 1758) 12 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 11); Sbikha 34 km N of N of Sousse 3 km S of Hergla, 12.04 (loc.1); 17 km SE of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 22); N of Suisse 3 km S of Hergla, 12.04 Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc.2); 10 km SW of Bizerta, 07.04 (loc. 4); (loc. 1); 25 km S of Kairouan 11.04 (loc.23); 12 km E of 1 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 5); 12 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 Mateur 12.04 (loc. 25); W of Tunis 1 km SE of El Bahar 12.04 (loc. 11); 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23); W of Tunis 1 (loc. 27); 25 km SW of Bizerta; 10.04 (loc. 20); N of Sfax 2 km SE of El Bathan, 12.04 (loc. 27). Total 46 specimens. km E of Djebeniana 11.04 (loc. 24). Total 40 specimens. All specimens are very dark coloured, all tibia are black, The species is widespread in Palaearctic except northern only tarsi yellowish. Common species, distributed in the parts, the northernmost record is in southern Sweden, was Holarctic, Oriental and Afrotropical Regions. Well-known recorded also in the Afrotropical Region (Sudan). pest of different cereals and grasses. The drawings of male genitalia in Dely-Draskovits [1983] and Beschovski [1985] differ between each other in form of 11. Oscinimorpha longirostris (Loew, 1858) cerci; both authors didn’t draw hypandrium. Both parts of male N of Sousse 3 km S of Hergla, 07.04 (loc. 1), 7 ##. genitalia of specimen from Tunisia are given of Figs. 1–2. Euro-mediterranean species spreading northwards to Bel- gium, the Netherlands and Hungary. Duda described a varia- Subfamily CHLOROPINAE tion tunisica Duda, 1933 from Tunisia, which differs from nominative form only in colour of frons and halteres [Duda, 18. Assiania thalhammeri (Strobl, 1893) 1932–1933]. 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc. 2); 4 km E Sebaa 23 km Examined specimens belongs to nominative form. E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 12); 25 km SW of Bizerta, 10.04 On Chloropidae (Diptera: Muscomorpha) from Tunisia 87

Examined specimens clearly differ from L. megalops Becker, 1903 described from Egypt by the structure of first flagellomere. They have no setulae on anepistern, the second sector of costal vein is 3 times longer than the third sector. There is no male in the material and therefore I postpone the description of a new species.

21. Lasiosina herpini (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) 1 km S of Tabarka, 08.04 (loc. 6), 1 #. The species is widespread in Europe and temperate parts of Asia to the Far East of Russia and on Near East from Israel to Afghanistan. It is recorded for the first time in Tunisia and North Africa. Larvae are secondary invaders of some grasses and cereals, attacked by Chlorops pumilionis (Bjerkander, 1778).

22. Metopostigma tenuiseta (Loew, 1860) 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23), 1 #. The species is widespread in the Afrotropical Region and was recorded for Egypt and Israel as well. New to the fauna of Tunisia.

23. Pseudopachychaeta pachycera Strobl, 1902 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 12.04 (loc. 2), 1 $. The species was known from southern Europe and North 1 Africa (Morocco). New to the fauna of Tunisia.

24. Thaumatomyia notata (Meigen, 1830) Figs. 3–8.

N of Sousse 3 km S of Hergla, 12.04 (loc. 1); 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 07.04 (loc. 2); 1 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 5); 8 km S of Tabarka, 08.04 (loc. 7); 12 km E of Tabarka, 09.04 (loc. 11); 25 km SW of Bizerta, 10.04 (loc. 20); Sbikha 34 km N of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 22); 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23); 12 km S of Mateur, 12.04 (loc. 25); W of Tunis 1 km SE of El Bathan, 12.04 (loc. 27); 1 km NE of Tindia near Bizerta, 12.04 (loc. 28). Total 99 specimens. The species widespread in the Palaearctic Region and 2 recorded from the Oriental and Afrotropical Regions as well. Larvae are carnivorous, live in rhizome of plants and feed on root aphids. Figs 1–2. Male genitalia of Tricimba (Nartshukiella) humer- alis: 1 — epandrium, 2 — hypandrium. Ðèñ. 1–2. Ãåíèòàëèè ñàìöà Tricimba (Nartshukiella) humer- 25. Thaumatomyia sulcifrons (Becker, 1907) alis: 1 — ýïàíäðèé, 2 — ãèïàíäðèé. N of Sousse, 3 km S of Hergla, 12.04 (loc. 1), 1 $. A widely distributed species in southern Palaearctic from (loc. 20); 25 km S of Kairouan, 11.04 (loc. 23); W of Tunis 1 Canary Islands to China, including southern Europe. Larvae km SE of Bathan, 12.04 (loc. 27). Total 8 specimens. are carnivorous, living in rhizome of plants and feed on root Euro-mediterranean species, the northernmost localities aphids. in Europe are Austria and Hungary. A new species for the fauna of Tunisia. Discussion The examined specimens are very dark coloured, thorax and abdomen practically black, strongly shining. The collection contains 252 specimens, 25 species from 19 genera are presented. Among them, 6 species 19. Camarota curvipennis (Latreille, 1805) and 3 genera (Rhodesiella, Dicraeus Loew, 1973, Tra- 17 km SE of Zaghuan, 07.04 (loc. 2), 2 $$. chysiphonella Enderlein, 1936) are recorded for the first Euro-mediterranean species, the most northern locality in Europe is southern Sweden. New to the fauna of Tunisia. time in North Africa, and 14 species are new for the Larvae are phytophagous, develop in shoots of some grasses fauna of Tunisia. Most of recorded species, namely 17, and cereals, sometimes reaching pest status. belong to the subfamily Oscinellinae and only 8 to the subfamily Chloropinae. Such correlation of the number 20. Lagaroceras sp. of species of subfamilies is characteristic to subtropical 1 km S of Tabarka, 08.04 (loc. 6); 12 km E of Tabarka, and tropical fauna of Chloropidae, whereas in boreal and 09.04 (loc. 11). Total 2 $$. temperate zones of Holarctic both families are usually 88 Emilia P. Nartshuk

5

6

7

3 4 8

Figs. 3–8. Colour variation of scutum and spot on katepistern of Thaumatomyia notata: 3, 4 — scutum, 5–8 — spot on katepistern. Stippled parts are red coloured. Ðèñ.3–8. Âàðèàöèè â îêðàñêå ñêóòóìà è ïÿòíà íà êàòýïèñòåðíå ó haumatomyia notata: 3, 4 — ñêóòóì, 5–8 — ïÿüíî íà êàòýïèñòåðíå. Êðàñíûå ÷àñòè ïóíêòèðîâàíû. presented by nearly equal number of species. This is due temperate zone but I suppose that the first spring gener- to the fact that genera Chlorops Meigen, 1803 and ation appears in April in Tunisia. Meromyza Meigen, 1830, both Chloropinae, are usually Oscinella frit, also widespread species, is the second presented each by very numerous number of species in abundant species in the collection (46 specimens) and boreal and temperate zone of the Holarctic, but no Tricimba humeralis is the third one (40 specimens). species of these genera are presented in the examined The zoogeographical definition of each species is collection. based on the Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera [Nart- Thaumatimyia notata collected in 11 localities is the shuk, 1984] with later improvements. Tunisian territory most abundant species in the collection (99 specimens). is split between the Mediterranean and the Eremian It has given a chance to study colour variations in spring biogeographical subregions. Material examined was population of this widespread and very variable in collected in the Mediterranean subregions. The present colour species. It is worthy to note than all Chloropids study is a occasion for better characterisation of Chlo- which are characterised by colour variation are present- ropidae fauna of the Mediterranean. The bulk of the ed in examined collection by very dark coloured speci- Chloropidae fauna consists of euro-mediterranean spe- mens. All examined specimens of Th. notata are dark cies: Elachiptera bimaculata, Calamoncosis laminifor- coloured as well. No specimens coloured as var. pre- mis, Oscinimorpha longirostris, Melanochaeta pubes- tiosa Duda, 1933 with red thorax stripes described from cens, Camarota curvipennis, Assuania thalhammeri, Tunisia are found. Only 7 specimens (7.1%) have part of Pseudopachychaeta pachycera. Aphanotrigunum favil- thorax stripes brownish or red. The most specimens have laceum is Mediterranean species. Some species are 3 main thorax stripes black, only short and narrow widely distributed in Palaearctic and most of them stripes situated behind wing base are brownish or red. 44 common ubiquist species: Elachiptera cornuta, Polyo- specimens (44.4%) have all pleural spots black. 10 daspis sulcicollis, Lasiosina herpini), Dicraeus tibialis specimens (10.1%) have spot on anepistern and on is Holarctic species, found recently in New Zealand. anepimer black, spot on katepistern predominantly black. Ranges of some species include also the Afrotropical or/ 26 specimens (26.2%) have spots on anepistern black, and Oriental Regions: Siphunculina ornatifrons, Thau- spot on anepimer yellow and spot on katepistern pre- matomyia notata, Oscinella frit, Tricimba humeralis. dominantly yellow. 12 specimen (12.1%) have spot on The presence of true Afrotropical species is limited only anepistern black, and spots on katepistern and anepimer Metopostigma tenuiseta. yellow. Such colour of pleural spots are found in all 7 specimens with partly red thorax stripes. Different co- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I am sincerely grateful to Dr R. Danielsson and Dr H. Andersson (Zoological Museum of lour of scutum and spot on katepistern are given on fig. the Lund University, Sweden) for the interesting material, 2. It seems such dark colour of examined specimens is their hospitality and help during my visit Lund. Financial explained by low temperatures during development of support by grants RFFI, Russia ( 02-04-48588), of the Depart- spring generation. This species is hibernated as adults in ment of industry, science and technology RF (NSh-1667 On Chloropidae (Diptera: Muscomorpha) from Tunisia 89

2003.4) and programme of the Presidium of RAS “Scientific Dely-Draskovits A. 1981. Revision der Palaearktischen Arten der bases of the conservation of biodiversity in Russia”. Gattung Tricimba Lioy, 1864 (Diptera: Chloropidae) // Acta Zool. Acad. Sci. Hung. Vol.27. P.115–138. Dely-Draskovits A. 1982. Revision der Typen der Palaearktischen References Arten der Gattung Aphanotrigonum Duda, 1932, und Apha- notrigonella Nartshuk, 1964 (Diptera: Chloropidae) // Acta Zool. Acad. Sci. Hung. Vol.29. No.4. P.327–355. Becker T. 1903. Aegyptische Dipteren (Fortsetzung und Schluss) Disney R.H.L. 1973. A note on some filth-inhabiting flies in // Mitt. Zool. Mus., Berlin. Bd.2. H.3. S.67–195. Cameroun // Entomol. Monthly Mag. Vol.108 (for 1972). Becker T. 1907. Die Ergebnisse meiner dipterologischen Früh- P.212–213. jahrsreise nach Algier und Tunis, 1906 // Z. System. Duda O. 1932–1933. Chloropidae // E. Lindner (ed.). Die Hymenopterologie und Dipterologie. Bd.7. S.33–61, 97– Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region. Stuttgart. Bd.6. H.1. S.1– 128, 225–256, 369–407, 454. 248. Becker T. 1916. Neue Chloropiden aus dem Ungarischen Ismay J.W. 1991. Dicraeus tibialis (Macquart) (Diptera: Chlorop- National Museum // Ann. Hist.-Nat. Musei Nat. Hung. idae) new to New Zealand // New Zealand Entom. Vol.14. Vol.14. P.423–453. P.21–24. Beschowski V. 1985. Chloropidae // Fauna Bulgarica, Sofia. Nartshuk E.P. 1984. Family Chloropidae // A. Soos & L. Papp Vol.14. P.1–219 [in Bulgarian]. (eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera. Vol.10. Clusiidae – Deeming J.C. 2003. A contribuytion to the knowledge of African Chloropidae. Budapest: Akad. Kiadó. P.222–298. species of Oscinella Becker (Diptera: Chloropidae) // Cim- Nartshuk E.P. 1992. Chloropid flies (Diptera: Chloropidae) of bebasia. Vol.19. P.81–94. Cyprus // Entomol. Fennica. Vol.1. P.227–232.